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American -Irish Historical Society. 



Celebration of the Anniversary of the Battle of Rhode 

Island. Exercises to take Place in Providence, R. I., 

ON Tuesday, Aug. 29, 190S. 



Dear Sir : 

The Rhode Island members of our Society are to have their customary observance 
this year of the anniversary of the battle of Rhode Island. They cordially invite their 
fellow members throughout the country to participate with them in the exercises. 

The latter will take place at the Narragansett Hotel, in the City of Providence, on 
Tuesday, Aug. 29, and will be fully equal in point of interest and enjoyment to those 
held in former years. The program will comprise a reception, concert, and dinner, and 
post-prandial addresses by gentlemen of national prominence. 

A reception committee of Rhode Island members will be on duty at the Narragansett- 
as early as noon, on the date above mentioned, to greet visitors from out of town and to 
escort them to points of historical interest. 

At 4 p. m., the twenty-ninth meeting of the Council of the Society will be held at 
the Narragansett. 

The dinner is to take place at 7.30 p. m. During the evening an address of welcome 
will be delivered by Governor Utter, on behalf of the State of Rhode Island, and by 
Acting-Mayor Reynolds, on behalf of the City of Providence. 

Invitations to attend the exercises have been extended representatives of the Society 
of the Cincinnati, the Sons of the Revolution, and similar bodies, Rhode Island's delega- 
tion in Congress, prominent members of the judiciary, U. S. Army and Navy officers 
stationed within Rhode Island, the president of the Rhode Island and Newport historical 
societies and representatives of the Catholic and Protestant clergy. 

During the day, by order of the Governor of Rhode Island, the flags will be displayed 
on the State Capitol in honor of the anniversary. At 9.30 o'clock on the morning fol- 
lowing the dinner the Governor will honor the Society and its guests with an official 
reception at the Capitol, and will be assisted in receiving by other State officials. 






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To Americans of Irish lineage the battle of Rhode Island, Aug. 29, 1778, will always 
be an event of the Revolutionary War deserving of special commemoration. The Ameri- 
can forces in that engagement were commanded by IWajor General John Sullivan, of Irish 
parentage, on whose staff that day served two of his brothers, James and Eben Sullivan. 
Many of the other officers and a large number of the men were also of Irish birth or ex- 
traction, a fact abundantly attested by the company, regimental and brigade rolls of the 
period. Lafayette termed the battle " the best fought action of the war." 

The Society is now represented in thirty states, two territories, the District of Colum- 
bia and four foreign countries. It would be very pleasant to have each state and other 
section send a delegation to enjoy the hospitality of our Rhode Island brethren on the 
forthcoming patriotic anniversary. 

Tickets for the dinner will be ^3.50 each. They are now ready and may be 
obtained of the Secretary-General, whose address is herewith given. Members of the 
Society are at liberty to bring personal guests, including ladies. Please inform the Sec- 
retary as soon as possible if you intend to be present and whether you will be accompanied 
by guests. 

Fraternally, 

JOHN D. CRIMMINS, 
Thomas H. Murray, President-General. 

Secretary-General. 

(Humarock Beach, Sea View, Mass.) 
Aug. 1, 1905. 







Yv'i 



RECEPTION COMMITTEE OF RHODE ISLAND MEMBERS. 



Hon. Thomas Z. Lee, Chairman, Industrial Trust Building, Providence. 
HON. Patrick J. Boyle, Mayor of Newport. 
REV. AUSTIN DOWLING, Rector of the Cathedral, Providence. 
James E. Sullivan, M. D., Narragansett Pier. 

Mr. Michael F. DOOLEY, Treasurer of the Union Trust Co., Providence. 
Mr. Thomas a. O'GORMAN, of the O'Gorman Co., Providence. 
Mr. William J. Feeley, Treasurer of the W. J. Feeley Co., Providence. 
Mr. Bernard McCaugHEY, of Bernard McCaughey & Co., Pawtucket. 
Mr. JOHN E. HURLEY, Vice-President of the Remington Printing Co., Providence. 
Mr. William P. Dempsey, Treasurer of the Dempsey Bleachery and Dye Works, 
Pawtucket. 

Mr. John F. McAulifFE, with the Livermore & Knight Co., Providence. 

Mr. JOHN F. Mullen, with Wildprett & Laacke, Providence. 

Mr. James H. Hagan, Treasurer of the Park Brewing Co., Providence. 

Mr. JOHN F. O'CONNELL, with the O'Gorman Co., Providence. 

Col. James MORAN, recently commander of the Second Regiment, R. 1. M., Providence. 

COL. Patrick E. Hayes, Pawtucket. 

Col. John McManus, of John McManus & Co., Providence. 

Mr. Francis 1. McCanna, Woonsocket. 

Mr. Matthew J. Cummings, Providence. 

Mr. Thomas O'Brien, Pawtucket. 

J. T. Farrell, M. D., Providence. 

Mr. James Murphy, Providence. 

Mr. Eugene C. O'Neill, Newport. 

Mr. John W. HOGAN, Providence. 

Mr. Patrick Carter, Providence. 

Mr. John F. MCALEVY, Pawtucket. 

Mr. James T. Egan, Providence. 

Michael X. Sullivan, Ph. D., Brown University. 

Mr. Patrick J. McCarthy, Providence. 

Mr. Dennis F. O'Brien, Providence. 



" Sir : — I am favored with yours of the 26th informing me of your appointment to 
the command of the troops in this state. I have the pleasure of informing you that the 
appointment is highly satisfactory to us, and we hope will prove equally beneficial to the 
public and glorious to you." — Got. Niclio/as Cooke of Rhode Island to Major General John 
Sullivan, March W, 1778. 



"The enemy were at length routed, and fled in great confusion to the hill where 
they first formed, and where they had artillery and some works to cover them, leaving 
their dead and wounded in considerable numbers behind them. . . . Colonel Camp- 
bell [British] came out the next day to gain permission to view the field of action to 
search for his nephew who was killed by his side, whose body he could not get off, as 
they were closely p'."-sued. The firing of artillery continued through tlie day, and the 
musketry, with intermission, six hours ; the heat of action continued near an hour, which 
must have ended in the ruin of the British army had not their redoubts on the hill 
covered them from further pursuit." — Extract from General Sullivan's report of the battle 
of Rhode Island, written to tire President of Congress. 



"That the thanks of Congress be given to Major General Sullivan, and to the 
officers and troops under his command, for their fortitude and bravery, displayed in the 
action of August 29th, in which they repulsed the British forces and maintained the 
field." — Resolution of Congress relative to the battle of Rhode Island, 1778. 



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